Sunseeker 116 Yachts For Sale

Packing two excellent deck areas with a broad flybridge and vast forward lounge that is very much a separate terrace, the interior adds five cabins including a main deck Owner’s stateroom and a bright salon flanked by full-height glass. A fast cruising yacht with a 1,500nm+ range, the 116 will hit around 24 knots with its twin 2600hp MTU engines. 

The 116 is the continuation of an incredible, unmatched family of yachts, following on from the 115 Sports Yacht and Predator, 34m and 105, together representing some 70 builds, a massive chunk of the 35m five-cabin market. Now, let's take a look at the 116 Yacht in this full Buyer's Guide.

The Sunseeker 116 draws owners who still want to feel part of the yacht and not just be carried by it. Most come from a background in performance flybridge yachts between 28 and 34m (92 to 112ft), already used to seasonal cruising, short-haul passages, and hosting family or guests onboard. The 116 adds space and stature without taking that rhythm away. It builds on Sunseeker’s core promise: bold styling, fast lines, and a platform that moves quickly, looks sharp, and still handles like a sport yacht - even at 35m (115ft).

These owners value flexibility. They want to reach Corsica in a day, host at anchor off Monaco, or cruise the Exumas without worrying about depth. They don’t want displacement speed or formal salons. The 116 teaches them they don’t have to compromise - they can keep the habits of a smaller yacht while gaining volume, crew, and charter flexibility. Sunseeker designed the model for people who use their yacht often, move fast between ports, and still make the most of time aboard.

Buyers tend to fall into three groups:

• Step-up family owners: moving from 28-30m (92-98ft) yachts into more volume, but still running seasonal itineraries, often chartering part-time to offset cost.
• Sunseeker loyalists: clients familiar with the brand’s handling and look, upgrading within the range to gain accommodation and charter compliance without leaving the fleet.
• Charter-oriented buyers: often structured through a management company, selecting the 116 for its guest layout, proven income history, and strong Mediterranean charter demand.

What these buyers share is tempo. They use the yacht regularly, even if just a few weeks per year, and expect it to deliver both performance and presentation. The 116 lets them host and move quickly without switching to a style of ownership that feels remote or removed.

Where the Sunseeker 116 Spends Its Time

• Western Mediterranean: France, Italy, and Spain remain the main base for the model as many are listed, chartered, and berthed here seasonally.
• Caribbean and Bahamas: Winter relocations follow the charter season, with shallow draft (2.3m / 7ft 6in) allowing access to key anchorages and islands.
• United Kingdom: Some first owners are UK-based, though most keep the yacht abroad. The brand’s British roots make it a natural choice for local buyers entering the superyacht category.
• Asia-Pacific outliers: A small number base in Australia or Japan, usually tied to charter licensing or local ownership, but with limited resale movement.

For buyers reviewing Sunseeker 116 yacht specs, propulsion comes from twin MTU 16V 2000 M96L engines, a proven pairing for fast-planing yachts in this class. Built for pace, it reaches 24 to 26 knots at full load, with best range and fuel economy closer to 12 to 14 knots. Most owners cruise in the mid-teens. Ride comfort improves at anchor thanks to zero-speed fins, and engine-room layout makes daily checks straightforward for crew.  

Sunseeker 116 Engine and Performance Data

Noise, Access, and Long-Term Reliability

Most 116s run with twin Kohler gensets (around 55kW each), and the electrical system ships as 50Hz European standard. U.S. shore power (60Hz) was a factory option on many hulls, but not standard. The engine room is insulated to charter standards, and chillers, exhaust lagging, and seals follow normal service cycles. There are no known weak points tied to the model. With upkeep, MTUs are long-lived and globally supported, which is  a plus in the resale and charter market.

Ride and Handling

The hull is a deep-vee planing form with chines and rails for lift and spray control. This gives the 116 sharper handling than most full-displacement yachts its size. In chop, it stays dry and balanced. At rest, the ABT fins steady the hull well at anchor, and it's hull shape and fin system help it cover long legs fast and keep guests comfortable once there. For buyers comparing Sunseeker 116 ride comfort vs rivals, this is one of its strengths.

Owning a 116 means full-time crew, seasonal dockage, fuel, upkeep, and insurance, all often totalling 5-10% of the yacht’s value each year. Many owners charter to offset those fixed costs. The boat’s size, layout, and charter record make it a good fit for that mix, with charter income often covering most or all of crew, dockage, and insurance.

Typical Annual Operating Costs

• Crew: 5-6 full-time crew with salaries, social security, and rotation (where used).
• Dockage: Med marinas can run €50,000-€120,000 per season depending on berth size and location.
• Fuel: At 550-650 L/h underway, fuel is a major line item for owners who cruise often or reposition between regions.
• Maintenance: Routine service (MTUs, stabilisers, hydraulics), annual haul-out, and cleaning cost well into six figures.
• Refits: Expect budget every 5 years for AV/IT, soft goods, stabiliser overhaul, paint and chiller or exhaust work.
• Insurance: Around 0.8-1.2% of hull value, based on use (private vs charter), age, and region.

Offsetting Costs Through Chartering a Sunseeker 116 Yacht

A Sunseeker 116 that charters for 10-12 weeks per year at €130,000-€140,000/week (plus expenses) can bring in over €1.3 million gross. Even after commission and wear, that can cover 40-60% of fixed annual costs. Many owners charter during peak weeks, keeping some weeks back for family use. A few go further, treating the yacht as a part-time business, but even casual charter helps with crew retention and running costs.  

Cost Range and Planning Notes

Annual budgets vary based on how the yacht is used. An owner who stays in one region and cruises lightly may run closer to €750,000/year. One who crosses the Atlantic, charters heavily, or refits often will spend €1.2 million or more. Fuel costs swing with use and region - high-speed legs push burn over 600 L/h, while Med slow cruising keeps it lower. Berths sized for a 35.2m (115ft 6in) yacht are widely available in Med and Caribbean hubs, but cost and access vary by season. A VAT-paid yacht avoids added tax in EU marinas; one that isn’t may face extra charges. 

Much of the 116’s annual cost is crew - and for good reason. This is not a yacht built for light-touch, owner-operator use. It runs with a professional team who handle systems, guests, routing, and safety full-time. Most owners plan their seasons, pick the stops, and hand the rest to the crew.

The typical crew profile includes a captain, chief stewardess, chef, engineer, and deckhand, with a sixth crew member added during charter or busy weeks. The crew live forward in three cabins with shared head and galley access. Layout and systems give them separate routes to the bridge, engine room, and guest service points, which helps them stay unseen while onboard.

Day-to-Day Operations

Owners usually don’t drive or dock the 116, but many stay closely involved. They choose the cruising region, plan trips, and often work with the captain on timing, bookings, and guest handovers. Most yachts use a management company to handle flag compliance, ISM checks, and crewing paperwork. Onboard, the team handles fuel, watermakers, stabilisers, and the electrical load. With 220 GT of space to maintain, daily cleaning and checks are constant. That said, crew size and setup are stable as most hulls use the same 5-6 person team throughout ownership.

Maintenance and Service Intervals

Crews schedule annual yard time for haul-out, bottom paint, and mechanical checks. Stabiliser units and chillers follow a five-year overhaul cycle. Engine maintenance depends on hours and cruising patterns but MTUs are well known for reliable mid-life performance if hours are tracked and cooling systems checked. Some owners rotate the crew during long off-seasons to retain talent and reduce downtime. With a steady captain and engineer, the 116 runs lean, and that matters at resale, where maintenance records weigh as much as décor or finish.

While crew handle daily operations, owners still need to make early decisions about flag, insurance, and charter status. These shape where the yacht can go, how it’s taxed, and what’s required at survey. The 116’s size (under 500GT and capped at 12 guests) keeps the rules clear and the options broad, but the setup still needs planning from day one.

Flagging and Commercial Use

Most Sunseeker 116s are flagged under offshore registries like Cayman, Marshall Islands, or Malta. These offer light paperwork, full compliance with MCA LY3, and broad charter rights. The model’s gross tonnage and guest count fall within key thresholds: no SOLAS rules apply, and crew licensing follows standard 500GT yacht code. Some EU owners flag in Malta or France for tax reasons, but Cayman remains the most common. Changing from private to commercial use (or back) is possible, but requires updates to safety gear and paperwork.

Insurance Structure and Rates

Cover usually includes Hull & Machinery, P&I, pollution, and crew liability. Rates depend on region, use, and flag - most owners pay 0.8% to 1.2% of insured value each year. Older yachts or those with recent refits may need survey reports to bind cover. Charter-active yachts must show LY3 compliance, valid safety certs, and crew qualifications. Insurers expect records of haul-outs, engine hours, and stabiliser servicing - all standard for yachts in this class. Most 116s are insured through yacht-focused underwriters, often via specialist brokers who manage claims and renewals.

VAT, Import Duty, and EU Use

VAT status matters if the yacht will operate in Europe. A VAT-paid 116 Yacht can cruise freely in EU waters with no added tax. A VAT-unpaid yacht must either charter commercially (with VAT applied per trip) or stay outside the EU, such as in Montenegro or the Caribbean. Some owners opt for temporary import routes or keep the yacht under commercial lease to defer VAT. In the U.S., buyers must pay import duty (~1.5-2.5%) if they plan to flag or use the yacht privately inside the country. Chartering to U.S. residents within U.S. waters is generally not permitted unless flagged and built to U.S. rules, and most 116s avoid this by chartering in the Bahamas or Caribbean instead.

Compliance & Survey Schedule

The Sunseeker 116 was built to meet RINA class and MCA LY3 standards, so charter coding is straightforward. Surveys follow a five-year cycle, with annual checks between. Commercial yachts must stay current on safety gear, ISM documentation, and crew certs. Private yachts face lighter rules but must still show fitness for flag renewal and insurance. No emissions retrofits are required yet, but buyers should check whether Tier III compliance matters in their cruising plans, it does not apply to this model.

The Sunseeker 116 Yacht has traded steadily on the global brokerage market since launch, with used Sunseeker 116 yachts for sale typically spanning build years from 2016 through 2022. Most are located in the Mediterranean, with pricing influenced by VAT status, refit timing, and charter setup. This model has no formal generation split, but late-production hulls with low hours, updated stabilisers, and recent surveys tend to command firmer prices.

How the Sunseeker 116 Sells

Resale activity reflects the 116’s steady ownership cycle. Listings are typically held by experienced owners who move on after four to six years. Typical Sunseeker 116 yacht price levels sit in the €9.5 to €13.5 million range, with outliers where specification, condition, or location supports a premium. Yachts that have undergone major refits or offer turn-key charter operation tend to move faster. VAT-paid examples see stronger demand in the EU, while VAT-unpaid hulls appeal to buyers in the Caribbean, Asia, or those structuring for commercial use. Brokers track market shifts closely using tools like YachtBuyerPRO and report moderate time on market when condition and pricing align.

The chart below draws from confirmed sales and listings tracked by YachtBuyer Market Watch. Use it together with the live Used Sunseeker 116 Prices and Market Price Gauges to see how this model performs today and how it compares to similar GRP yachts in the 35 metre class.

Historic Market Overview

YachtBuyer’s Sunseeker 116 pricing graph shows 36 months of confirmed resale data for the Sunseeker 116 Yacht, including average listing trends and monthly price movement across the global fleet.

Benetti Fast 125

The Benetti Fast 125, part of the Italian builder’s Class line, rivals the Sunseeker 116 in length but not in drive type or weight. It uses a semi-displacement D2P hull form with a carbon-fibre superstructure and composite hull, delivering a top speed around 22 knots with twin MTU 16V 2000 M94 engines. At 8.5m (27ft 11in) beam and 349GT, the Fast 125 offers more interior volume than the 116 but also carries more weight, and its ride favours long-range comfort over fast cruising. Some versions use Azipull propulsion for quiet operation and improved turning radius, but pod drives can increase draft and limit shaft flexibility. Buyers comparing the Sunseeker 116 vs Benetti Fast 125 are choosing between top speed and internal space - with the 116 the lighter, quicker option on a shaft-drive platform that suits shallow water cruising and planing hull performance.

Ferretti Custom Line 120

The Custom Line 120 by Ferretti also enters this category, with a length of 38.3m (125ft 8in) and a focus on style and modular layout flexibility. Built in GRP with carbon fibre reinforcements, it uses ZF pod drives rather than shafts, and cruises around 21 knots. The beam comes in at 7.65m (25ft), with a gross tonnage near 299GT. That gives more interior volume than the Sunseeker 116, but the layout leans more heavily on salon space and owner-level finishing. Buyers comparing the Sunseeker 116 vs Ferretti CL 120 are weighing drive preference, draft restrictions, and crew space - the 116’s shaft drive suits simpler service in remote regions and gives a more predictable ride at full throttle. The Ferretti offers more design input early in build, but its pods and layout lean toward owner use, not charter deployment.

Westport 117

A Westport 117 is another peer building on the previous Westport 112 platform, with a focus on traditional layout and reliable performance in U.S. waters. It measures 35.7m (117ft), runs on twin MTU 16V 2000 M96 engines, and offers a cruising speed around 20 knots. The beam is narrower than the Benetti at 7.9m (25ft 11in), with a shallow draft ideal for Florida and Bahamas use. With an all-GRP construction and a proven hull shape, the Westport suits buyers prioritising ease of upkeep, strong American yard support, and established resale logic. It does not offer the same deck flow or modern profile as the Sunseeker 116, but has earned a loyal following. For buyers comparing Westport 117 vs Sunseeker 116, the choice often rests on pace, helm style, and whether the yacht will be U.S. or Med based.

The Sunseeker 120 Yacht

The Sunseeker 120 was announced in 2023 as the intended successor to the 116, carrying forward the planing hull form and under-500GT format. Early designs featured a larger foredeck lounge, revised superstructure lines, and Tier III-compliant MTU engines aimed at meeting updated emissions regulations. Although previewed to the market and initially positioned for delivery from 2026, the 120 did not proceed to full production. The 116 remains the top of Sunseeker’s GRP yacht range, with a clear track record and global fleet presence.

For side-by-side comparisons of the Sunseeker 116 Yacht against other handpicked yachts, visit the Head-to-Head Comparison Tool.

The Sunseeker 116 Yacht needs clear thinking from the start. Hulls differ by build year, refit level, and ownership structure. Charter history, engine hours, stabiliser maintenance, and VAT status all shape price and long-term cost. A buyer’s broker brings order to that mix - checking what matters, verifying records, and guiding the offer process without bias.

A good broker confirms the basics first: hull number, MTU engine variant, fin or gyro stabilisers, and whether the yacht operated under private or commercial use. With access to YachtBuyerPRO, they can pull shipyard records, sale timelines, and ownership trails to build a full picture of how each yacht was specced, run, and maintained. 

Brokers also track the full 116 fleet across regions - spotting long-time listings, recent price cuts, or standout upgrades like new AV systems or chillers. YachtBuyer Market Watch provides market-wide visibility, not just anecdotal pricing. Once a yacht is shortlisted, the broker handles offer structuring, sea trials, survey booking, and final negotiation. They know where hidden costs live: in stabiliser seals, exhaust lagging, air con hours and not just obvious teak and upholstery wear. They also coordinate post-sale steps like flag, insurance, and crewing, setting up the yacht to run smoothly from day one.

Whether you’re comparing a 2016 Sunseeker 116 Yacht with full VAT paid or a 2020 build fresh from charter rotation, the right broker backed by YachtBuyer tools helps you move with confidence and speed.

Every Sunseeker 116 Yacht carries a record. Its build slot, specification, early ownership, and cruising region all shape long-term value. A buyer’s broker can guide the process, but effective decisions also rely on clear data and up-to-date insight. YachtBuyer delivers both. We track each yacht’s engine hours, stabiliser type, classification status, and crew layout, along with whether it operated privately or under charter in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, or Asia-Pacific. That gives buyers a full view before they commit.

All listings are built from verified ownership and service records. Buyers can compare a VAT-paid Sunseeker 116 to a charter-registered sistership, assess how interior upgrades or hull paint affect resale, and understand how region, specification, and engine use shape future costs. That allows focus on core factors such as fuel range, running cost, and upkeep history, not just headline length or top speed.

YachtBuyer has published a full editorial review of the Sunseeker 116 Yacht and, covering deck layout, accommodation, Helm Station and value for money along with insight from survey and refit records across the fleet. This model has earned YachtBuyer’s full five-star rating and holds a place in the YachtBuyer Hall of Fame - recognition reserved for yachts that set the standard in their class.

Buyers comparing used Sunseeker 116 Yachts for sale can use real-time pricing tools and market history to check performance over time. Listings connect across the Sunseeker fleet for side-by-side comparisons. With YachtBuyer, the focus stays on value, with zero guesswork - helping serious buyers act with confidence.